Status Update: ARTIC Modern Wing

Written By on February 28, 2009 in Construction, museums, The Loop, tourism

Sure, it’s got a Renzo Piano stamp on it, but I can’t help but feel like the “starchitects” we looked to in the 80’s and 90’s for inspiration have gone off their feed.  Gehry’s become a one-trick pony.  Hadid churns out fantasy after fantasy but hardly any get built.  And did I.M. Pei go into Witness Protection or something?

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Status Update: The Nichols Bridgeway

Written By on February 27, 2009 in Construction, museums, The Loop, tourism

After yesterday’s mini-rant about the Art Institute’s Modern Wing, it seemed logical to follow that up with an update on the bridge that will link the museum with Millennium Park. The 620-foot-long bridge has a Renzo Piano pedigree and like most modern architecture is simple in design.  In fact, it’s a big white pipe cut in half.  A culvert, really.  Which I guess is symbolic or ironic or something since it’s...

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